Posted by ramsea on October 1, 2005, at 1:25:30
In reply to Re: RANEBEAUBRIIIGHTE...SHE SPULS REEL GRATE!! ;-) » Damos, posted by rainbowbrite on September 26, 2005, at 22:02:56
Having been a foreigner in other places, I know what it is like to constantly have people "correct" you or have a giggle at one's pronuniation of words. And I have learned first hand that people become very attached to their own way of pronouncing words and find deviations jar their ear at worst and at best, amuse.
But it isn't a black and white matter. Dialects always create differences. Have you ever seen the pronunciation chart of sounds? It uses a variety of symbols in addition to familiar vowels/consonants to demonstrate more scientifically "how" people are sounding out their words. Even the Queen's English is not considered "correct" these days. All speakers shorten one sound, or add a kind of extra syllablic sound---it's just what human speakers do with words. All speakers "slur" some of their words, or, for example, their "hard T" sound might actually sound like a "soft d". But if their community does the same, then no one thinks anything of it--it is the correct way to speak.
If a stranger comes along and sounds somehow unlike themselves, there is a kind of internal alarm. Maybe it's biology, but there's this great urge on people's part to laugh at difference or hate it. If you can get hold of one of these charts (easily available) listen to TV or radio and try writing phonetically how you hear the words. It will soon become obvious that there are many varieties of perfectly "correct" pronunciation of English words.
Spelling only very recently in human history became uniform. Shakespeare spelled his own name seemingly a myriad of different ways. Many famous, profound writers have been poor spellers.
It's just a thought--but could you have a session with a speech therapist? Tell them your worries. Maybe they can help you gain greater confidence. Feeling able to speak without undue self-consciousness is an important step.My bet is that you sound just fine. But a professional might be able to reassure you and even help you speak even more clearly, if that is what you wish. Please write again if you like, best, ramsea
poster:ramsea
thread:559619
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050929/msgs/561495.html